NIU’s Holly Accepts Top Arts Post

Richard Holly, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University, joins NC State on July 1 as executive director of ARTS NC STATE.

“I am very pleased that Rich has agreed to join us to lead ARTS NC STATE into the future,” said Mike Mullen, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. “His experience and breadth of knowledge in the arts will bring a fresh perspective to our programs and provide the vision necessary to continue our tradition of producing high-level arts programming for our students and the community.”

Holly is a member of the Rockford Arts Council, co-chair of the Higher Education Board for Arts Alliance Illinois and leader of the Arts in Education Panel of the Chicago Public Schools. He was a founding board member of the DeKalb Area Arts Council.

Holly’s artistic background is largely in percussion instruments. He has been a professor of percussion at NIU since 1983, remaining active as a solo performer and clinician, and has appeared over 300 times at schools, colleges, universities, conventions and festivals throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, South America and Asia.

Moving to North Carolina is a homecoming of sorts for Holly. He received his formal training at East Carolina University as well as the State University of New York at Potsdam.

“I am extremely excited about joining the ARTS NC STATE family,” Holly said. “The mission and opportunities in the arts that are provided to the student body and greater Raleigh community are near and dear to my heart. Everyone at NC State has been very kind and generous and I look forward to working with them to broaden the reach and impact that the arts have on everyone.”